Hydraulic hose clamp

ABSTRACT

A hose clamp for supporting a hose with respect to a machine. The hose clamp may include a deformable clamping element comprising a section of material at least partially surrounding an opening. The opening extends through a thickness of the clamping element and is configured to receive the hose. The hose clamp additionally comprises a support element configured to secure the clamping element to the machine. The support element is further configured to compress the clamping element along a direction of the thickness of the clamping element, thereby deforming the clamping element and causing the clamping element to constrict around the hose.

RELATED APPLICATION

This continuation patent application claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/365,821 entitled “HYDRAULIC HOSE CLAMP,” filedMar. 27, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to hoseclamps. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention aredirected to hose clamps that can be used to support hydraulic hoses withrespect to machines, such as heavy-equipment machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types of heavy-equipment machines include hydraulic systems topower the machines, as well as to provide power to arms and toimplements associated with the machines. For example, skid steers and/ortrack loaders (“loaders”) are often operated with implements that aresupported by the loaders' lift arms. The lift arms of a loader can raiseand lower the associated implement, such that the implement can performvarious types of work (depending on the specific type of implement beingused). Generally, the lift arms will be actuated hydraulically via oneor more hydraulic cylinders. Commonly, the implement will also behydraulically operated. As such, the loader will include a plurality ofhydraulic hoses that extend from the hydraulic pump and/or hydraulicvalves of the loader to the hydraulic cylinders of the lift arms and/orto the implement supported by the lift arms.

Proper routing and support of hydraulic hoses is important for enhancingthe durability and longevity of the hydraulic hoses. For example, if ahydraulic hose is positioned in a manner that allows the hydraulic hoseto make contact with and/or to rub against the loader when the loader(or the loader's lift arms) actuate, such contact can cause thehydraulic hose to prematurely wear, which can cause early failure of thehydraulic hose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a hoseclamp for supporting a hose with respect to a machine. The hose clampmay include a clamping element comprising a section of material at leastpartially surrounding an opening. The opening extends through athickness of the clamping element and is configured to receive the hose.The hose clamp additionally comprises a support element configured tosecure the clamping element to the machine. The support element isfurther configured to compress the clamping element along a direction ofthe thickness of the clamping element, thereby deforming the clampingelement and causing the clamping element to constrict around the hose.

In an additional embodiment, there is provided a machine comprising atleast one lift arm, at least one hydraulic hose extending into aninterior of the lift arm, and a hose clamp supporting the hydraulic hosewith respect to the lift arm. The hose clamp includes a deformableclamping element comprising a section of material at least partiallysurrounding an opening. The opening extends through a thickness of theclamping element and receives the hydraulic hose. The hose clampadditionally includes a support element securing the clamping element tothe lift arm. The support element compresses the clamping element alonga direction of the thickness of the clamping element, thereby deformingthe clamping element and causing the clamping element to constrictaround the hydraulic hose.

In a further embodiment, there is provided a method of supporting ahydraulic hose with respect to a machine. The method comprising a stepof providing a hose clamp comprising a deformable clamping elementformed as a section of material at least partially surrounding anopening, with the opening extending through a thickness of the clampingelement. The method comprises the additional step of inserting thehydraulic hose into the opening of the clamping element. The methodcomprises the further step of compressing the clamping element along adirection of the thickness of the clamping element. During thecompressing step, the clamping element deforms and constricts around thehydraulic hose.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the detaileddescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspectsand advantages of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanyingdrawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments of the present invention are described herein with referenceto the following drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a heavy-equipment machine with apair of lift arms and an implement powered hydraulically by way of aplurality of hydraulic hoses, with the hydraulic hoses held in place bya hose clamp according to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the pair of lift arms, theplurality of hydraulic hoses, and the hose clamps from FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional perspective view of one of the lift armsfrom FIGS. 1 and 2 , particularly showing one of the hose clampssupporting hydraulic hoses in place with respect to the lift arm as thehydraulic hoses extend through an interior space of the lift arm;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, perspective view of a portion of one of the liftarms from FIG. 2 , particularly illustrating the hose clamp supportingthe hydraulic hoses with respect to the lift arm;

FIG. 5 is another enlarged, perspective view of a portion of one of thelift arms from FIG. 2 , particularly illustrating the hose clamp inexploded form and with a clamping element of the hose clamp being flexedoutward in an open position;

FIG. 5 a is a perspective view of the clamping element from FIG. 5 ,with the clamping element being unflexed in a closed position;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a clamping element from the hose clamp ofFIGS. 1-3 ;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, cross section view of the lift arm from FIG. 4 ,particularly showing the hose clamp supporting the hydraulic hoses, andwith a clamping element from the hose clamp being in an uncompressedstate;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a support element from the hose clamp ofFIGS. 1-3 ;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the lift arm from FIG. 7 , illustratingthe clamping element from the hose clamp in the uncompressed state, suchthat the hydraulic hoses have some freedom of movement;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, cross section view of the lift arm from FIG. 4 ,particularly showing the hose clamp supporting the hydraulic hoses, andwith a clamping element from the hose clamp being in a compressed state;and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the lift arm from FIG. 10 ,illustrating the clamping element from the hose clamp in the compressedstate, such that the hydraulic hoses have no, or minimal, freedom ofmovement.

The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specificembodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the present invention referencesvarious embodiments. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects ofthe invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changescan be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in alimiting sense. The scope of the present invention is defined only bythe appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to whichsuch claims are entitled.

Broadly, as illustrated in FIG. 1 , embodiments of the present inventionare directed to a hose clamp 10 for supporting one or more hoses 12(e.g., hydraulic hoses) with respect to a heavy-equipment machine 14(e.g., a skid steer and/or track loader). Although the followingdescription describes the hose clamp 10 supporting hydraulic hoses 12,it should be understood that the hose clamp 10 of embodiments of thepresent invention may be used to support other types of hoses, such asgas hoses (e.g., pneumatic lines), other liquid hoses (e.g., waterlines, fuel lines, etc.), or the like. In addition, although theheavy-equipment machine 14 described herein is directed towards a skidsteer and/or track loader, it should be understood that the hose clamp10 of embodiments of the present invention may be used with variousother types of heavy-equipment machines 14, or with non-vehicularmachines (e.g., engines, power plants, hydraulic presses, assemblylines, etc.).

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the heavy-equipment machine 14 (referredherein as “machine 14”) may include a pair of lift arms 16 that supportan implement 18. The lift arms 16 may each be associated with one ormore hydraulic cylinders 19, which facilitate actuation (e.g., raisingand lowering) of the lift arms 16. The machine 14 may include one ormore of such hydraulic hoses 12 extending from the hydraulic system ofthe machine 14 (e.g., the hydraulic pump/valve(s), which is not shown)to the hydraulic cylinders 19 to facilitate such actuation. As such, forinstance, the lift arms 16 can be actuated via the hydraulic cylinders19 to raise and/or lower the implement 18. The machine 14 may also becoupled with various types of implements 18 for performing various typesof work. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 , the implement 18 is a bucket,which is operable to pick up and dump material (e.g., soil). Theimplement 18 may require hydraulic power to actuate and/or operate theimplement 18. As such, the machine 14 may include one or more of suchhydraulic hoses 12 extending from the hydraulic system of the machine 14to the implement 18 (or to a position adjacent to the implement 18). Forexample, in certain embodiments, the implement 18 may comprise animplement that requires hydraulic power to operate, such as an auger, apost-hole digger, a tiller, or the like. In such embodiments, thehydraulic hoses 12 may connect with a cylinder or a motor of theimplement 18 so as to provide hydraulic power to the implement 18.

In some embodiments, the hydraulic hoses 12 that extend to the implement18 (and/or those hydraulic hoses 12 that are connected to the hydrauliccylinder 19 of the lift arms 16) may be inserted into an interior spaceof the lift arms 16. For example, as perhaps best illustrated in FIGS. 2and 3 , the hydraulic hoses 12 can pass through at least a portion ofthe interior of the lift arms 16 as the hydraulic hoses 12 extend fromthe hydraulic system of the machine 14 to their intended locations(e.g., to the implement 18 and/or to the hydraulic cylinders 19 of thelift arms 16). Extending through the interior space of the lift arms 16may be beneficial in that the hydraulic hoses 12 will not be exposed tothe environment and/or will not come into unwanted contact with themachine 14 and/or with external objects, which could cause wear anddamage to the hydraulic hoses 12.

The hose clamps 10 of embodiments of the present invention may beconfigured to support one or more of the hydraulic hoses 12 with respectto the machine 14, and particularly may support the one or morehydraulic hoses 12 in position with respect to the lift arm 16 of themachine 14 (e.g., as the hydraulic hoses 12 pass into the interiorspaces of the lift arms 16). In more detail, and with reference to FIGS.4 and 5 , the hose clamp 10 may broadly comprise a clamping element 20configured to constrict around the hydraulic hoses 12 and a supportelement 22 configured to secure the clamping element 20 to the machine14 (e.g., to one of the lift arms 16 of the machine 14). In someembodiments, the clamping element 20 may be formed as a section ofmaterial, such as an elongated, flat loop of material, that surrounds anopening 24, as illustrated in FIG. 6 . As such, the clamping element 20may be configured similarly to and/or the same as, a gasket. In certainembodiments, the clamping element 20 may be configured as a closed loop.In other embodiments, the clamping element 20 may be formed as an openloop of material, such as a u-shaped, a c-shaped, or other similarlyopen-shaped section of material. Regardless, the opening 24 of theclamping element 20 may be configured to extend through a thickness ofthe clamping element 20, as perhaps best shown in FIG. 7 . As such, andas will be described in more detail below, the opening 24 of theclamping element 20 is configured to receive one or more of thehydraulic hoses 12. It should be additionally noted that, in someembodiments, the clamping element 20 is configured to flex from a closedposition to an open position. FIG. 5 illustrates the clamping element 20flexed to an open position, while FIG. 5 a illustrates the clampingelement 20 unflexed and in a closed position.

The clamping element 20 may, in some embodiments, be comprised ofvarious types of elastomeric materials, such as rubber, silicone, and/orvarious other types of polymers. As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the clampingelement 20 may, in some embodiments, have a width “CE-W” of between 0.5and 4 inches, between 1 and 3 inches, between 1.5 and 2 inches, or about1.75 inches. The clamping element 20 may, in some embodiments, have alength “CE-L” of between 3 and 7 inches, between 4 and 6 inches, orabout 5 inches. As illustrated in FIG. 7 , the clamping element 20 mayhave a thickness “CE-T” of between 0.25 and 1.0 inches, between 0.33 and0.66 inches, or about 0.5 inches. The opening 24 presented within theclamping element 20 may be large enough to receive, support, andconstrict the hydraulic hoses 12. As such, in some embodiments, theopening 24 of the clamping element 20 may have a width of between 0.5and 1.5 inches or about 1 inch and a length of between 2 and 4 inches orabout 3 inches. Nevertheless, it should be understood that suchabove-described dimensions may be varied as necessary to comport withthe specific measurements of the hydraulic hoses 12 being supported bythe hose clamp 10.

Embodiments provide for the opening 24 to be defined by an interiorsurface of the clamping element 20. In certain embodiments, the opening24 will be configured to receive a single hydraulic hose 12.Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 6 , the interior surface of theclamping element 20 may be formed with an arcuate shape that defines theopening 24 to include two or more hose-receiving areas, with eachhose-receiving area being configured to receive an individual hydraulichose 12. For instance, in some specific embodiments, the clampingelement 20 may be formed with three hose receiving areas, which areconfigured to receive three individual hydraulic hoses 12. In someembodiments, the interior surface of the clamping element 20 may includea plurality of knobs 26 projecting inwardly into the opening 24. Suchknobs 26 may be configured to separate adjacent hose-receiving areas.

To facilitate the ability to receive the hydraulic hoses 12 within theopening 24 of the clamping element 20, the clamping element 20 mayinclude an aperture 28 formed through one side of the clamping element20. As such, the clamping element 20 can be flexed or spread out from aclosed position (as shown in FIG. 5 a ) to an open position (as shown inFIG. 5 ), such that the hydraulic hoses 12 can be inserted through theaperture 28 and into the opening 24 of the clamping element 20.

Turning to the support element 22, as illustrated in FIG. 8 ,embodiments may provide for the support element 22 to comprise agenerally flat plate that includes a centrally-positioned opening 30formed through a thickness of the support element 22. The supportelement 22 may be formed from a rigid material, such as a metal, a metalalloy, a hard polymer, or the like. As initially noted, the supportelement 22 may be used to secure the clamping element 20 to the machine14, as illustrated in FIG. 4 . Specifically, the support element 22 maybe configured to cover the clamping element 20 when integrated with themachine 14, such that the clamping element 20 is sandwiched between themachine 14 (or the lift arm 16 of the machine 14) and the supportelement 22.

As such, the support element 22 may be formed with a size and shape thatgenerally corresponds with a top surface of the clamping element 20. Forinstance, the support element 22 may be formed with a size in which,when the support element 22 is positioned on a top surface of theclamping element 20, a perimeter of the support element 22 is generallythe same as (or slightly larger than) a perimeter of the clampingelement 20. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8 , the support element22 may, in some embodiments have a width “SE-W” of about 1.5 to 2.0inches and a length “SE-L” of about 4 to 6 inches. In contrast from theclamping element 20, however, the support element 22 may be formed witha relatively small thickness. As illustrated in FIG. 7 , the supportelement 22 may have a thickness “SE-T” of between 0.1 and 0.25 inches,or about 0.13 inches.

In additional embodiments, interior portions of the support element 22may not extend inward as far as interior portions of the clampingelement 20. Stated differently, when the support element 22 ispositioned on the top surface of the clamping element 20, the opening 30of the support element 22 may be positioned directly over interiorportions of the clamping element 20 (including the interior surface ofthe clamping element 20 that defines the opening 24 of the clampingelement 20). As a result, when the clamping element 20 is compressed bythe support element 22, as will be described in more detail below, thematerial of the clamping element 20 can expand inward so as to contractthe width of the opening 24 of the clamping element 20 as necessary tocontract and/or constrict around the hydraulic hoses 12.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8 , the support element 22 may beformed as c-shaped section of material at least partially enclosing theopening 30. To facilitate entry of the hydraulic hoses 12 into theopening 30 of the support element 22, the support element 22 may includean aperture 32 formed through one side of the support element 22. Assuch, the hydraulic hoses 12 can be inserted through the aperture 32 andinto the opening 30 of the support element 22. In alternativeembodiments, the support element 22 may be formed as a closed, elongatedloop of material that encloses the opening 30.

In operation, the hose clamp 10 can be used to support one or morehydraulic hoses 12 with respect to the machine 14, and in someembodiments with respect to the lift arms 16 of the machine 14. Tobegin, the hydraulic hoses 12 may be inserted into an interior space ofthe lift arms 16 via an opening 40, as illustrated in FIG. 5 . Next, thehose clamp 10 can be positioned around the hydraulic hoses 12 andsecured to the lift arm 16 at a position adjacent to the opening 40 ofthe lift arm 16, as illustrated in FIG. 5 (the clamping element 20 beingpositioned around the hydraulic hoses 12) and FIG. 4 (the clampingelement 20 positioned around the hydraulic hoses 12 and secured to thelift arm 16 of the machine 14).

In more detail, the lift arm 16 may, as illustrated in FIG. 5 , includea mating surface 42 that surrounds the opening 40 in the lift arm 16. Abottom surface of the clamping element 20 can be positioned on themating surface 42, such that the opening 24 of the clamping element 20is generally aligned with the opening 40 of the lift arm 16, asillustrated in FIG. 7 . To allow the clamping element 20 to bepositioned on the mating surface 42, the clamping element 20 may need tobe flexed to an open position so as to permit the hydraulic hoses 12 tobe received in the opening 24 of the clamping element 20. As wasdescribed above, the clamping element 20 may be opened by flexingoutward, such that the hydraulic hoses 12 can be passed through theaperture 28 of the clamping element 20 and received within the opening24. In embodiments in which there are multiple hydraulic hoses 12, eachindividual hydraulic hose 12 can be positioned within a hose-receivingarea of the clamping element 20, as is shown in FIG. 9 .

It should be understood that the clamping element 20 may initiallyreceive the hydraulic hoses 12 while the clamping element 20 is in anuncompressed configuration (i.e., the support element 22 is notcompressing the clamping element 20). The clamping element 20 in anuncompressed state is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9 . In such aconfiguration, there may be some free space between the interior surfaceof the clamping element 20 and the hydraulic hoses 12. Thus, thehydraulic hoses 12 may have some freedom of movement with respect to theclamping element 20 and the machine 14. However, as will be described inmore detail below, such freedom of movement may be removed once theclamping element 20 is secured to the machine 14 and compressed by thesupport element 22.

To secure the clamping element 20 to the lift arm 16 of the machine 14(as well as to compress the clamping element 20), the support element 22may be positioned over the clamping element, as shown in FIG. 5 , so asto cover the clamping element 20. Specifically, a bottom surface of thesupport element 22 may be positioned in contact with an upper surface ofthe clamping element 20. To facilitate such positioning, the supportelement 22 can be maneuvered such that the hydraulic hoses 12 are passedthrough the aperture 32 of the support element 22 and received withinthe opening 30 of the support element. Next, the support element 22 canbe fastened to the lift arm 16 in a manner that sandwiches the clampingelement 20 between the support element 22 and the lift arm 16, as isshown in FIG. 4 . In some embodiments, fasteners may be used. Forinstance, as illustrated in the figures a pair of bolts may be used tofasten ends of the support element 22 and the clamping element 20 to thelift arm 16. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5 , the bolts may passthrough aligned receiving holes formed in the ends of the supportelement 22 and the clamping element 20 and into threaded receiving holesformed in the lift arms 16. A washer may also be used between eachfastener and the support element 22.

In addition to securing the support element 22 and the clamping element20 to the lift arm 16, the fasteners may also be used to aid the supportelement 22 in compressing the clamping element 20. Specifically, bythreading the fasteners into the lift arm 16, the support element 22will be forced to move towards to the lift arm 16, thereby compressingthe clamping element 20 that is positioned between the support element22 and the lift arm 16, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 . Suchcompression of the clamping element 20 may, in some embodiments, bealong a direction of the thickness of the clamping element 20 so as tocause at least a portion of the clamping element 20 to reduce itsthickness “CE-T.” In addition, however, such compression of the clampingelement 20 may cause the inward expansion of at least a portion of theclamping element 20. Specifically, the compression may cause theinterior surface of the clamping element 20 to expand inward, therebyreducing the size of the opening 24, such that the clamping element 20constricts around the hydraulic hoses 12, as is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Thus, in contrast to the clamping element 20 being in the uncompressedconfiguration (in which the hydraulic hoses 12 may have some freedom ofmovement, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 ), the clamping element 20 in thecompressed configuration constricts around the hydraulic hoses 12 (asshown in FIGS. 10 and 11 ) such that there is (1) no (or minimal) freespace between the interior surface of the clamping element 20 and thehydraulic hoses 12, and/or (2) the hydraulic hoses 12 are securely heldin place, with no (or minimal) freedom of movement, by the clampingelement 20.

With the hose clamp 10 securely holding the hydraulic hoses 12 inposition with respect to the machine 14 and/or to the lift arm 16 of themachine 14, the hose clamp 10 can reduce the wear and damage to thehydraulic hoses 12. Specifically, the lift arm 16 can be actuated (e.g.,raised and lowered) as often as necessary without the hydraulic hosesunnecessarily rubbing on the lift arm 16 or becoming tangled. Forinstance, if the hose clamp 10 is not used, the hydraulic hoses 12 wouldhave a significant amount of freedom of movement with respect to thelift arm 16, such that the hydraulic hoses would rub against the portionof the lift arm 16 that surrounds the opening 40 in the lift arm. Suchcontact between the hydraulic hoses 12 and the lift arm 16 would causeunwanted wearing and damage to the hydraulic hoses 12. Such freedom ofmovement may also permit the hydraulic hoses 12 to become entangled,which may damage the hydraulic hoses 12. In addition to supporting thehydraulic hoses 12, the hose clamp 10 can also function as a seal forthe opening 40 in the lift arm 16. Such a seal can prevent (or restrict)environmental debris (e.g., dust, dirt, water, etc.) from entering intothe interior space of the lift arm 16.

Although the above description is with respect to a single hose clamp 10incorporated with a single lift arm 16 of a machine 14, it should beunderstood that each lift arm 16 of the machine 14 may include a hoseclamp 10. Furthermore, the hose clamp 10 may be used with other machinesor other components. For instance, in some broad embodiments, the hoseclamps 10 may be used whenever it is necessary to pass one or more hosesthrough a solid surface (e.g., a wall) and to securely hold such hosesin place with respect to the solid surface.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the one ormore embodiments illustrated in the figures, it is understood thatequivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.

Having thus described one or more embodiments of the invention, what isclaimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includesthe following:

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of supporting a hydraulic hose withrespect to a machine, said method comprising steps of: (a) providing ahose clamp on a lift arm of the machine, wherein the hose clampcomprises a deformable clamping element formed as a section of materialat least partially surrounding an opening, wherein the opening extendsthrough a thickness of the clamping element; (b) inserting the hydraulichose through the opening of the clamping element and into an interiorspace of the lift arm; and (c) compressing the clamping element along adirection of the thickness of the clamping element, wherein during saidcompressing of step (c), the clamping element deforms and constrictsaround the hydraulic hose.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein lift armcomprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of thelift arm is configured to support an implement, and wherein the hoseclamp is positioned on the proximal end of the lift arm.
 3. The methodof claim 2, wherein after said inserting of step (b), the hydraulic hoseextends through the interior space of the lift arm from the proximal endtowards the distal end.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the proximalend of the lift arm includes a mating surface, wherein the matingsurface surrounds an opening in the lift arm, and wherein the hose clampis positioned on the mating surface.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe hose clamp further comprises a support element, wherein saidcompressing of step (c) further includes securing the clamping elementto the machine by fastening the clamping element between the supportelement and the machine.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein during saidcompressing of step (c), a width of the opening of the clamping elementis reduced.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein during said compressing ofstep (c), the thickness of the opening of the clamping element isreduced.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the support element issecured to the machine via threaded fasteners that extend through thesupport element, through the clamping element, and into the machine. 9.The method of claim 5, wherein the support element comprises a metalplate.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the support element comprisesa flat, c-shaped plate enclosing an opening of the support element,wherein upon said compressing of step (c), the hydraulic hose isreceived in the opening of the support element.
 11. The method of claim10, wherein the support element includes an aperture formed through oneside of the support element, wherein the aperture is configured topermit the hose to pass through the aperture and into the opening of thesupport element.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the clamping elementcomprises an elongated, flat loop of material.
 13. The method of claim1, wherein the clamping element is formed from an elastomeric material.14. The method of claim 13, wherein the elastomeric material is rubber.15. The method of claim 1, wherein the opening of the clamping elementis defined by an interior surface of the clamping element, wherein theinterior surface has an arcuate shape presenting two or morehose-receiving areas, wherein each hose-receiving area is configured toreceive an individual hose.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein theinterior surface of the clamping element includes a plurality of knobsprojecting inwardly into the opening, wherein the knobs separateadjacent hose-receiving areas.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein theclamping element includes an aperture formed through one side of theclamping element, wherein the aperture permits the clamping element toflex open such that the hose can be inserted through the aperture andinto the opening of the clamping element.
 18. The method of claim 1,wherein the machine is a track loader.
 19. The method of claim 18,wherein the track loader supports an implement at a forward end of thelift arm, and wherein the track loader provides hydraulic power to theimplement via the hydraulic hose.
 20. The method of claim 19, whereinthe hydraulic hose exits the interior space of the lift arm at theforward end of the lift arm.